Armored protector for motor-vehicle radiators.



D. H. BELLAMORE. ARMORED PROTECTOR vFOR MOTOR VEHICLE RADIATORS. APPLICATION FILED MMI. II. I9I5.

'1, 182,886. Patented May 16, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES.- INVENTOR D. H. BELLAMOHE.

ARMORED PROTECTOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLE RADIATORS. APPLICATIoN FILED MAR. l?. |915.

Ll. Patented 11ay16,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I I INVENTOR aziro' Y e 7am0r1e.

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A ftorneys *Unrrnn STATES PATENT oFFrcE.

DAVID H. BELLAMORE, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR T0 THE STANDARD ORDNANC CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

ARMOBED PROTECTOR FOR MOTOR-VEHICLE RADIATORS.

specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1e, 191e.

Application tiled March 17, 1915. Serial No. 15,137.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID I-I. BELLAMORE,

a subject of the King of Great Britain, re-

siding'at the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Armored Protector for Motor-Vehicle Radiators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a protector or armor for motor vehicle radiators.

The primary object of the invention is to render such radiators proof against bullets, and yet not materially interfere with the customary air cooling of the. radiators.

A further object of the invention consists in providing the protector with coperating means for cutting or severing any ordinary obstructions which the machine may encounter, and which might, ordinarily, impede its progress, such as barb wire, or similar baffles.

As a feature of the invention, the front of the protector is provided with an opening through which the engine may be cranked without disturbing the protector.

Speaking generally, of the preferred form of the invention, it embodies three members or units positioned one on each side of the radiator and a 4front member, cooperating therewith, all of said members being suitably supported on the framework of the machine. The front member is preferably composed of a plurality of overlapping units, free passage them.

Features of the invention, other than those described, as well as the important functions of the device, as a whole, will appear from the hereinafter detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodiment of thel invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention. r

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe forward part of an armored motor vehicle showing the present invention as applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 illustrates the motor vehicle in elevation with the armoring devices shown in central longitusuitably arranged or spaced so that a' of air is permitted between .complementary dinal section, and Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the vehicle shown in the figures previously described.

Referring to thefdrawings, A designates a chassis of a motor vehicle embodying forward Wheels B, radiator C, hood D, and any suitable driver seat E. The top and sidesof the radiator arehoused Within a 'casing F of armor plate or bullet-proof material, whereas the body of the car is protected by a furtherhousing G of similar type, but of increased size.

As usual, the engine H is positioned upon the chassis beneath hood D, and is protected from falling bullets or from lateral n-flre byvhousing F, as will be understoo The housing F is rigidly secured to the chassis in any suitable manner so as to be adapted to withstand the impact of bullets, etc.

It has been suggested in the past to armor motor vehicles in thegeneral manner thus far described, and, as the front of the radiator is particularly susceptible to injury, it has been attempted to protect the same by means of stationary armor plate positioned to close the front of the housing F. With the front-of the housing F closed, however, the engine does not obtain the required cooling air currents, with the result that said engine is apt to heat up and stalL To overcome this objection, hinged doors of bullet proof steel have been placed on the front of the radiator, said doors being closed when the machine is under the enemies fire and openedwhenthe machine is in action. The disadvantages of such structures, as described, will be manifest; if the vehicle is attacked suddenly with the doors of the front of the radiator open, shots may be readily directed into the radiator with a view to disabling the vehicle. Manifestly, moreover, the engine cannot run for any length of time with the doors closed.-

With the foregoing disadvantages in mind, the present invention provides means whereby cooling air currents may be supplied to the radiator at all times without in any way whatever exposing the vulnerable parts thereof.l In the preferred methodl of practising the presentinvention a pair of lates I I are rigidlymounted in any .suita le manner at each side of housing F and at the forward edge thereof. These plates are of bullet-proof material,

and, to facilitate the defie'ction of bullets, y

converge forwardly of the machine, thereby operating to protect the front of the radiator from a glancing shot, and at the same portions of any two adjacent plates are notA in contact, but are placed somewhat apart so as `to allow of the passage of air between them. Any number of slats may be employed and they 'may overlap in any desired manner so long as the front of the radiator is.- protected from forward attack. The lowest slat J is preferably extended below the frame A of the machine to such extent as to adequately protect that portion of the engine which generally depends below said frame, said lower Slat bein cut away as at j to allow of thecranklng mechanism' to be passed therethrough, and operated for-l wardly of said slat.

While not entirely essential, it is'preferable to position slats J in angular relation to the base of the radiator so that currents of air in engaging with said slats will be deflected through the. slots intermediate the overlapped portions of said slats.

It will be manifest from the foregoing that, when the engine is running, currents of air will be constantly owing between the edges of the slats J and over the engine, thereby allowing the same to operateA with maximum. efficiency irrespective ofthe presence of the protecting devices.

It is quite common for belligerent armies to stretch barbed wire and other obstructions across highways, etc., for the purpose of checking the advance of their opponents. Not only are these obstructions dangerous to a rapidly moving car, but should they be observed, it would be necessary to stop the vehicle in order that the obstruction may be manually cut down. According to the present invention, however, thel armoring devices of the radiator are so'constructed asy to automatically clear away obstructions of the type specified. To this end, the forward 1,1sa,sse

wardly along the tapered knife edges of plates I I', thereby greatly expediting the cutting operation of said knife edges. I i I have shown the knife edges as only slightly tapered, although this degree of tapermg may be either increased or decreased, as desired. Moreover, the knife blades may depend beyond the frame A of the car so as to cutany obstructions which might engage with the car intermediate the upper portion of the hood and the axle.

It will be understood that, in the foregoing description, I have set forth the preferred embodiment of my invention, but the invention is not to be understood as limited to this disclosure, said invention being considered broadly new as is commensurate with the appended claims. I

, Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A protector for motor vehicle radiators embodying two side members, the forward edges of which are sharpened to form cutting edges, and a coperating front member, said front member being provided with suitable air inlets.

2. A protector for motor vehicle radiators, embodying a plurality of bullet-proof slats ixedly positioned in stationary, overlapping relation forwardly of the radiator, and provided with air passages intermediate the adjacent slats whereby air currents maycirculate through the radiator at all times, while effectually protecting said radiator from damage by bullets.

3. A rotector for motor vehicle radiators embodylng two side members and a coperating front member, said front member being composed of a plurality of rigid, stationary bars or slats suitably spaced apart and adapted to allow of the clrculation of air through'the radiator at all times.

. 4. A protector for motor vehicle radiators embodylng -two side members and a cooperatlng front member, said front member being composed of a plurality of se arated, overlapping fixed bars whereby bulfetsv cannot pass between them and yet ermit of av free circulation of air to the ra iator at all times. y

5. A protector for motor vehicle radiators, embodying a plurality of bullet-proof slats fixedlypositioned in stationary, overlapping relatlon forwardly of the radiator, and provided with air passages intermediate the adjacent slats whereby air currents lmay circulate through the radiator at all times, while efectually protecting said radiator from damage by bullets, and cutting means coperatingvwith said slats for severing obstacles and obstructions in the pathof the vehicle.

6. A protector for motor vehicle radiators Aembodying two side members the. forward l spaced as to allow of the passage of air bel embodying cutting blades,

edges of which are sharpened to form cutting edges, and a plurallty of slats secured at their opposite ends to said side members, and provided with interspaced openings through which air is adapted to circulate.'

7. A rotector for motor vehicle radiators embodying two cooperating side members rigidly secured adjacent said radiator and converging forwardly thereof, and a plurality of o verlapping slats secured at their opposite ends to said side members, the lowest slat extending below the radiator to such extent as to shield those parts of the vehicle which depend below the frame thereof from forward attack, andy said slats being so tween their overlapping e ges.

8. protector for motor vehicle radiators embodying two side members rigidly secured relative to the radiator and tapered downwardly, said side members being sharpened along their forward edge to serve as cutting blades, and a front member ositioned intermediate the side members or precluding the entrance of bullets into said radiator.

9. A protector for motor vehicle radiators two side members rigidly secured relative to the radiator and tapered downwardly, said side members being sharpened along their forward edge to serve as and ,a front memberl positioned intermediate the side members and rigidly secured thereto for precluding the entrance of bullets into said radiator.

10. A protector for motor vehicle radiators embodying a pair of coperating side members and a plurality of slats positioned between said side members and extending across the front of the radiator, the overlapping portions of said slats being spaced apart, and said slats being disposed in angular relation to the face of the radiator, whereby, when the motor vehicle is in motion, air is deflected by said slats so as to pass intermediate the overlapped portions thereof and into engagement with the radiator.

11. A protector for motor vehicle radiators, embodying a knife-edged member positioned forwardly of the radiator for severing obstacles in the path of the vehicle, in

combination with bullet-proof means alsopositioned forwardly of the radiator and provided with openings whereby air currents 'may circulate through the radiator' at all times, while effectually protecting said radiator from damage by bullets.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in thepresence of two ,subscribing witnesses.

l DAVID H. BELLAMORE. AWitnesses:

CORNELIUS ZABRIsKm, F. S. FrrzslMoNs. 

